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All the United Kingdom England Nottinghamshire Queen's Sconce

Queen's Sconce

A well preserved remnant of the English Civil War.

Nottinghamshire, England

Added By
Alan Newman
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The Queen’s Sconce   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
The Queen’s Sconce   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
The Queen’s Sconce   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
The top of the structure.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Bridge across the deep ditch.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Map showing distribution of sconces around Newark during the Civil War.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Information board.   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Cannon sculpture   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
The Queen’s Sconce   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
Carved bench within the park   Dr Alan P Newman / Atlas Obscura User
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About

A sconce was a defensive structure that was developed as an earthwork. They normally followed a star-shaped plan to allow overlapping fields of fire. They were also capable of absorbing artillery blasts.

Several sconces were constructed around Newark in Nottinghamshire, England during the English Civil War. The town was overwhelmingly royalist and was subjected to sieges by Parliamentary forces. The Queen's Sconce, named for the wife of Charles I, was the main defensive structure to the south of the town. It was designed to resist Parliamentary forces moving north via an ancient Roman road called the Fosse Way.

The structure now sits in a very attractive park called Sconce and Devon Park, which is actually a combination of two smaller parks. A steel bridge was constructed to give access over a deep ditch, about 60-feet wide and 15-feet deep, around the well-preserved structure. The only reason this site was not destroyed was that soldiers feared the plague and fled the region after the siege. 

To commemorate the role Newark played in the English Civil War, a brilliant sculpture of a latticework cannon was placed within the structure. Also on top of the sconce is a cast metal map showing the distribution of defensive works around the town during the war. 

There is a ton of information at the site and the sconce forms an integral part of the Newark Civil War Trail. There are also reenactment events held at the sconce conducted by the Sealed Knot Society or other reenactment organizations. These include artillery exchanges, along with both infantry and cavalry charges. 

Related Tags

War History & Culture War History Earthworks Military

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Parking is available onsite with a voluntary charge of £1 per day. There is a small cafe open most days at the site, but closes at 3 p.m.

The park surrounding the sconce is very nice for a stroll and adjacent is a local nature reserve.

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Edited By

Vaquero

  • Vaquero

Published

October 28, 2020

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Queen's Sconce
Boundary Rd
Newark
Nottinghamshire, England, NG24 4AU
United Kingdom
53.068774, -0.821588
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Nearby Places

The Newark Castle Remains

Newark-on-Trent, England

miles away

Polish War Graves of Newark Cemetery

Newark-on-Trent, England

miles away

Museum of Timekeeping

Upton, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire

England

Places 16
Stories 1

Nearby Places

The Newark Castle Remains

Newark-on-Trent, England

miles away

Polish War Graves of Newark Cemetery

Newark-on-Trent, England

miles away

Museum of Timekeeping

Upton, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire

England

Places 16
Stories 1

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